Gerry Robichaud

Gerry Robichaud comes from Saint Paul New Brunswick. He started learning the fiddle when he was quite young, thanks to the influence of his family and a fiddler called Oscar Melanson. Oscar was bedridden and would whistle the tunes for Gerry to learn. Here's how Gerry tells it: “When we were kids, all we had in the house was the fiddle. My mother used to play and that’s where we picked it up. She had a very good bowing arm. I started when I was eight years old and I had a hard time reaching the floor to tap my feet when I was sitting down. And my fingers were so small I had a hard time to reach the finger board, too. So my mother would tell me, “I think you should wait another year or two,” but I’d say to myself, “I think I can learn those tunes that she plays.” So every time she’d go out of the house and I got a chance, I’d pick up that fiddle. The first thing she knew, I could playa few tunes. And then I got a lot of help from her – she used to come over and tell me, “Hey, do this or do that a certain way.” And in no time I could pick a number of tunes. I got as many tunes as I could from my mother and even more from my brother Fred. And other old time fiddlers used to come and play in the kitchen and I picked up a lot from them, too. I’d sit down and listen, and as soon as they left, I’d pick up the fiddle and try to do the same thing as they did. Later on, Harvey and Bobby got a guitar and we’d put the guitar with the fiddle and it would sound a lot better. Pretty soon they started coming to get us to play for parties – what we called ‘kitchen rackets." 

http://www.backtothesugarcamp.com/R.htm

Other fiddlers who influenced his playing were Don Messer, Tommy Linkletter, and Tommy Doucet. He was soon playing for kitchen parties and made his first radio appearance at the age of 10. He left New Brunswick and moved to Boston in 1995 and spent the rest of his life in Waltham, Massachusetts. He died there on January 31, 2013 aged 81 years. His first recording was Down East Fiddling from Voyager records in 1973, followed by Maritime Dance Party in 1978 on Alcazar. He also made some recordings for the Canadian label Banff Rodeo thanks to a deal worked out by his friend Winston Scotty Fitzgerald.

Gerry was also featured in a 1983 documentary called New England Fiddles and shared an album with his brother Bobby called The Slippery Stick. You can also listen to his playing on More Down East Fiddling on Bandcamp.

Moccasin Shuffle 🎼

Reel Bouctouche 🎼

The Atlantic Polka 🎼

Gerry Robichaud recordings: 

Gerry Robichaud, Gerry Robichaud and his New England Downeasters, Banff/Rodeo RBS-1067, (1961)

-Gerry Robichaud, Fancy Fiddlin’ with Gerry Robichaud, Banff/Rodeo RBS 1212, (1970)

-Gerry Robichaud, Down East Fiddling, Voyager Records VRCS 3105, (1973)

-Gerry Robichaud, Maritime Dance Party with Gerry Robichaud, Fretless FR201, Alcazar Dance Series, (1978)

-Gerry Robichaud, More Down East Fiddling with Gerry Robichaud, Self Produced / Recorded, (1992)

-Gerry Robichaud, The Slippery Stick - Traditional Fiddling from New Brunswick, Rounder Records Corp., Cambridge, MA, CD 7016 (1996)

-Gerry Robichaud, The Robichaud Brothers, (Gerry and Bobby), Rounder Records CD 7016 (1996)

-Gerry Robichaud, The Country Masters, Patio Records CD PR003, Engineered and  Produced by Angy Pinkham, Matt Leavenworth and Terry Eagan, (2002)

-Gerry Robichaud, The North Atlantic Strings, Patio Records CD PR004, Engineered and  Produced by Angy Pinkham, Matt Leavenworth and Terry Eagan, (2004)

-Gerry Robichaud, The Best Darn Fiddling in the World (cassette), BDFM 5-7008

Sources:

http://www.backtothesugarcamp.com/R.htm#robichaud

Dominique Dupuis

Dominique Dupuis is an Acadian fiddler, born 1987 in Memramcook NB. Her playing style is a blend of Acadian and Celtic influences and she often plays at Celtic festivals in Europe as well as festivals in North America. She began studying the violin when she was nine and by the time she was 12 she played at the opening of the International Festival in Lafayette, Louisiana. She has performed at the Pays de la Sagouine park in Bouctouche, as well as the Festival Interceltique i Lorient, France. She recorded her first album, Le bonheur des coups d'archet in 2000, followed by Sans relâche in 2002 and Bourrasque in 2008. Her most recent album is title Dominique Dupuis and came out in 2012.

Eddie (Eddy) Poirier

Eddie (or Eddie) Poirier is a New Brunswick fiddler, born in Rogersville in 1943. He is equally gifted on many instruments, including mandolin and guitar and quite at ease playing either Bluegrass, Acadian, Maritimes, or Irish styles. To learn more about Eddy, there's a great interview with him by Paul Stewart Cranford in the August 2011 issue of Fiddler Magazine. He also has several videos posted on Youtube. When not busy fiddling, he drives an 18 wheeler.

Discography:

-Eddie Poirier and Bluegrass 4, Banjo Bluegrass, Heritage Music, Scarborough, Ontario, Cassette (1968)

-Eddie Poirier, The Maritime Fiddler, Heritage Music, Scarborough, Ontario, L.P. and 8 Track, (1968); later released on “Fiddler Extraordinaire” C.D. Album, (1997)

-Eddie Poirier, Banjo, Banjo, Banjo, Heritage Music, Scarborough, Ontario, Cassette, 1970

-Eddie Poirier, I’m Going Back to Old Kentucky, Heritage Music, Scarborough, Ontario, Cassette, 1972

-Eddie Poirier, Eddie Poirier - Fiddler Extraordinaire, Condor Label, Heritage Music, Scarborough, Ontario, L.P. and 8 Track, 1973; later released on C.D., (1997).

-Eddie Poirier, The Best of Bluegrass, Smiley Bates, Rose Poirier, Eddie Poirier, Condor Label, Heritage Music, Scarborough, Ontario, (1973) L.P. and 8 Track, (later released on C.D. Circa, HCD 4425, 1997)

-Eddie Poirier (with Graham Townsend), Eddie Poirier Plays Scottish and Irish Style, Heritage Music, Scarborough, Ontario, (1993)

-Eddie Poirier and Bluegrass 4, Love Please Come Home, BOOT Records, Cassette, (1978).

-Eddie Poirier and Bluegrass 4, Eddie Poirier and Bluegrass 4, Country Records, Bowmanville, Ontario, (1981).

-Eddie Poirier, Eddie Poirier - Fiddle, Country Records, Bowmanville, Ontario, (1982).

-Eddie Poirier, Love of the Mountains, HUED Productions, Moncton, N.B., Cassette, (1987).

-Eddie Poirier, Candlelight Hornpipe, HUED Productions, WRC 4-6184 CAS 024, (1990).

- Eddie Poirier and Sons, Eddie Poirier and Sons - Fiddle, HUED Productions CMS Studio, Moncton, N.B., Cassette 104, HP004, (1990).

-Eddie Poirier, The Lost Dreams, by Eddy Poirier, DJP Studio, Moncton, N.B., (2004).

-Eddie Poirier, I’m On My Way Back to the Old Home, by the Poirier Family and Friends, DJP Studio, Moncton, N.B., (2004).

-Eddie Poirier, Red Hot Fiddle

-Eddie Poirier, Eddie Poirier et son violon

- Eddie Poirier & Fils, Eddie Poirier & Fils, Violon (cassette), HP-004

Sources:

http://www.backtothesugarcamp.com/P.htm#poirier

Peter Arsenault

Peter Arsenault comes from a long line of Acadien fiddlers in the Evangeline region of Prince Edward Island. He started playing fiddle when he was 28 years old and followed in the footsteps of his father, the legendary Eddy Arsenault. As Peter says, “I kind of picked up the old style from dad. Everything is evolving all the time, so if you don’t kind of carry that old stuff and try to hand it to the next generation, it’ll go away with the old timers.”

Finally found out what "mocoque" means, thanks to the Facebook page of Le Français Acadien. It's an aboriginal term that refers to a swampy land where wild cranberries and blueberries grow.

Le mot "mocoque" est emprunté de l'amérindien et désigne un "terrain marécageux propice à la croissance des airelles», «fruit de l'airelle (bleuets et canneberges).

For more information on Peter Arsenault, including photos and recordings, go to Bowing Down Home, a great website devoted to Prince Edward Island fiddlers.

Louise Arsenault

Louise Arsenault from Mont Carmel Prince Edward Island started playing fiddle at age 7, sneaking her father's fiddle out of its case. She grew up surrounded by music with childhood friends Helen and Albert Arsenault, the children of renowned PEI fiddler Eddy Arsenault. There were kitchen parties and visiting musicians. Her father, Alyre Gallant, was a fiddler known for his older, more rhythmic style of fiddling.  "I also grew up in a musical family," she explains, "My father played the fiddle and my mother played the pump organ. I started playing fiddle when I was seven. I've learned a lot of tunes from my dad. He used to take me to all the music contests when I was growing up."
She can be heard on the Party Acadien cd along with Eddy Arsenault and Anastasia Desroches and later joined the group Barachois, devolving later into Gadelle. 

Reel des Narcisses by Louise Arsenault/Barachois 🎼

Here’s a fast, then a slow version of La Reel à Stéphane. Louise says a few words about the tune that she wrote, then plays it first at speed, then at a slower speed for learning.

Voici une vidéo de Louise Arsenault, jouant un pièce de sa composition: La Reel à Stéphane, d’abord vitesse normale et suite, une version plus lente pour apprendre.

Another composition from Louise Arsenault, Reel du Barachoise, once again played at normal speed then slowed down for learning.

Une autre composition de Louise Arsenault, cette fois c’est le Reel du Barachoise. Encore joué d’abord vitesse normal, suivit à vitesse ralantit pour apprendre.

Another composition from Louise Arsenault - Le Reel des Narcisses, played normal then slowed down.

Encore une autre composition de Louise Arsenault - Le Reel des Narcisses, enrégistrée à vitesse normale et ensuite à vitesse plus lente pour apprendre.

Edward Arsenault

Photo by Orrin Livingston

Edward à Polycarpe Arsenault was born in St. Chrysostome, Prince Edward Island. This is the French-speaking Evangeline region of the Island. Edward started playing guitar and harmonica in his teens and only took up the fiddle in his thirties, urged on by his wife. There was always music around:  his mother played mouth organ and pump organ and his neighbor, Eddy Arsenault played fiddle. For ten years, Edward played secretly in his home and it was only later that he started playing for kitchen parties (parties de cuisine) in the maisons de rassemblement (gathering houses). Edward played with a distinctive stutter or hiccup in his bow, a sort of dropping of the weak notes and syncopation that gave the music a very driving and exciting rhythm for dancing.

Here are some recordings of Edward Arsenault that his sister, Marie Livingstone, graciously sent us:

Reel des Acadiens was made famous played by Eddy Arsenault on the Party Acadien CD. Edward was the composer and Marie says that he couldn't show up for the recording because he was sick, so his neighbor, Eddy Arsenault played it.  

Reel des Placide 🎼

This tune refers to Edward's family lineage: Edward à Polycarpe à Phylimon à Polycarpe à Joe à Placide. 

Reel des Mocoque 🎼

Named after another branch of Edward's family

A mémé is a granny so the title would read: Swingin' Granny.

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Sid Baglole

Sydney Baglole was born 1912 and resided in Freetown, Prince County PEI. He was a farmer and fiddler. His background is Cornish and Scottish but he plays fiddle in the style of the French Acadians of Western Prince Edward Island (the Evangeline Coast). The style combines the lyricism of the French tunes with the rhythm of the Cape Breton tunes. One of Sydney Baglole's tunes became quite well known thanks to "Barachois", a French Acadian group from Prince Edward Island. On the recording, the track starts with a song called "Le Matin Quand je me lève" then about half way through the track they start a tune they call Reel de Sid Baglole. Here's the recording:

Old Timer's Reel 🎼

Twin Sisters 🎼

Reel Traditionel 🎼

For more information on Sidney Baglole, including photos, recordings, and video, go to the wonderful website devoted to Prince Edward Island fiddlers: Bowing Down Home.

Arnold Déraspe

Arnold Déraspe is a fiddler and fisherman from the Madgalen Islands. He has passed down his techniques and tunes as a "Madelinot" fiddler to his son Bertrand Déraspe who continues the tradition. Some recordings of his playing can be found through the archives of Acadian music at the University of Moncton NB

P.S. Arnold Déraspe passed away Saturday, May 8th, 2021. He was 88 years old. The following was posted by his son, Patrice Déraspe on Facebook:

Un géant vient de déposer son archet.

Arnold Déraspe nous a quitté à l’âge de 88 ans, ce samedi 8 mai 2021. À l’heure de son départ, ses fils lui ont rendu hommage en musique, comme ils l’avaient fait pour leur mère Gladys.

Arnold laisse derrière lui, un legs musical inestimable. Porteur de tradition et passeur de savoirs, il a transmis bien plus que l’amour de la musique traditionnelle. Il fut un exemple de rigueur et de bonheur à retrouver ces mélodies du passé et à les faire revivre sous ses doigts.

Son immense talent, son humour et son amour pour la vie, pour sa famille, pour sa communauté, auront touché bien des cœurs et fait danser des milliers de souliers.

Géant parmi les plus anciens héritiers Madelinots, pêcheur de tradition pendant 50 ans, sa présence nous manquera, mais son coup d’archet lui survivra, dans le Violon des Îles.

À tous ceux qui ont croisé sa route en parole ou en musique, la famille Déraspe vous remercie du fond du cœur pour votre amitié.

Ses fils, Bertrand, Mario, Patrice ainsi que ses belles-filles, ses petits-enfants et ses arrière-petits-enfants vous remercient à l’avance pour vos marques d’affection. Les détails des célébrations viendront sous peu.

A giant just dropped off his bow.

Arnold Déraspe left us at the age of 88, this Saturday, May 8, 2021. At the time of his departure, his sons paid tribute to him in music, as they did for their mother Gladys.

Arnold leaves behind, a priceless musical legacy. Tradition carrier and knowledge passer, he passed on much more than the love of traditional music. He was an example of rigor and happiness to find these melodies from the past and make them relive under his fingers.

His immense talent, humor and love for life, for his family, for his community, will have touched many hearts and made thousands of shoes dance.

Giant among the oldest heirs Madelinots, a fisherman of tradition for 50 years, we will miss his presence, but his bow strike will survive him, in the Violin of the Islands.

To all those who crossed their path in word or music, the Déraspe family thank you from the bottom of their hearts for your friendship.

His sons, Bertrand, Mario, Patrice as well as his daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren thank you in advance for your affection marks. Details of the celebrations will come shortly.

Le Reel de la Morte 🎼

Pascal Miousse

Pascale Miousse, the fiddler for the super group Vishtèn, is a native of the Magdalen Islands. From the ages of 4 to 10 he took classical violin lessons then started playing guitar with his dad. At 14 he learned bass and toured with a traditional folk group and at 20 went on a 10 year tour of eastern Canada. He joined Vishtèn in 2002 at the Franco-Fête in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Shediac Bridge 🎼

Shediac Bridge

Below is a video of Pascale Miousse playing one of Bertrand Déraspe's tunes: "C'est Fret sur le Picassou" 

Aurélien Jomphe